Victor Alexander
Maray Gutierrez
Jan Bartoszek, Founder and Artistic Director
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Justin Deschamps
Learn more about Hedwig Dances...
Alitra Cartman
Michel Rodriguez
Jessie Gutierrez
GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS 2009
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Andrea grew up dancing at the University of Utah's Children Dance Theatre. Her early studies of The Doris Humphrey
technique with Ernestine Stodelle and Gail Corbin led to her more formal dance training at The Juilliard School. Upon receiving her BFA from Juilliard,
Andrea moved to Tel Aviv, Israel to join Ohad Naharin's Ensemble Batsheva, where she performed the works of Naharin and Sharon Eyal in Israel, Europe,
and New York. Andrea has also had the privilege of dancing with numerous companies including Cedar Lake, Limon Dance Company and The Buglisi Dance
Theatre. In 2006 Andrea returned to New York City to establish Gallim Dance, a contemporary dance company that supports the creation and
performance of her choreography. Andrea has been selected as one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" (January, 2009 Issue), and her work has been
presented in the United States, Canada and Israel. Venues include Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out Stage, Dance Theater Workshop, Joyce SoHo, Alvin Ailey
Citigroup Theater, Battery Park, Movement Research at Judson Church, The Flea Theater, Clark Studio Theater, Martha Graham Studios, Paul Mellon Arts
Center (CT), Teatron Suzan Delal (Tel Aviv), Studio Varda (Tel Aviv), and The Norman Rothstein Theatre (Vancouver).
Andrea is the recipient of the Hubbard Street 2 Choreographic Competition, The Stella Adler Studio of Acting Artist in Residence (MAD AIR), the Lower
Manhattan Cultural Council MCAF Grant, and the 1999 Choreographer Award from the Connecticut Shoreline Alliance for the Arts. Recent commissions
include Repertory Dance Theater (UT), Zenon Dance Company (MN), and Arts Umbrella (Vancouver). She has choreographed for students at The Juilliard
School, Alvin Ailey, SUNY Purchase, and New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble. interview
technique with Ernestine Stodelle and Gail Corbin led to her more formal dance training at The Juilliard School. Upon receiving her BFA from Juilliard,
Andrea moved to Tel Aviv, Israel to join Ohad Naharin's Ensemble Batsheva, where she performed the works of Naharin and Sharon Eyal in Israel, Europe,
and New York. Andrea has also had the privilege of dancing with numerous companies including Cedar Lake, Limon Dance Company and The Buglisi Dance
Theatre. In 2006 Andrea returned to New York City to establish Gallim Dance, a contemporary dance company that supports the creation and
performance of her choreography. Andrea has been selected as one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" (January, 2009 Issue), and her work has been
presented in the United States, Canada and Israel. Venues include Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out Stage, Dance Theater Workshop, Joyce SoHo, Alvin Ailey
Citigroup Theater, Battery Park, Movement Research at Judson Church, The Flea Theater, Clark Studio Theater, Martha Graham Studios, Paul Mellon Arts
Center (CT), Teatron Suzan Delal (Tel Aviv), Studio Varda (Tel Aviv), and The Norman Rothstein Theatre (Vancouver).
Andrea is the recipient of the Hubbard Street 2 Choreographic Competition, The Stella Adler Studio of Acting Artist in Residence (MAD AIR), the Lower
Manhattan Cultural Council MCAF Grant, and the 1999 Choreographer Award from the Connecticut Shoreline Alliance for the Arts. Recent commissions
include Repertory Dance Theater (UT), Zenon Dance Company (MN), and Arts Umbrella (Vancouver). She has choreographed for students at The Juilliard
School, Alvin Ailey, SUNY Purchase, and New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble. interview
Is an internationally known choreographer, recognized as one of the most important artists of contemporary Cuban dance and a leader of the Hispanic-
American dance vanguard. Her revolutionary style, “Contaminated Dance,” radically merges all the arts in dance performance to produce an original
form. As choreographer, dancer and professor, Boan has worked in over 40 countries and created more than 50 choreographic pieces. She is now
working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she founded her new company BoanDanz Action, opened BoanDanz Studio, and teaches at Temple
University (after earning her master’s degree).
Prior to moving to the States, Marianela Boan founded DanzAbierta in Havana and served as its director. She has been awarded numerous prizes in
Cuba and abroad. Her work has been presented at diverse venues and festivals including Grec, Madrid en Danza, Cadiz and Fall in Spain. The Place
Theater in London, Festival of Nations in Switzerland, Cahillot Theater in Paris, Le Hague Festival in Holland, Cirque Royal de la Monnaie in Belgium, L’
Arena de Verona and Goldoni Theater in Venetia, Italy, Global Dance and Summer Theater in Germany. Fringe Edinburgh and Glasgow Festivals,
Scotland. Her work has also been performed at Odin Theater in Denmark and the most important venues in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Caribbean,
India, Nigeria and Japan. She has been a Titular Professor at the High Institute of Arts in Cuba (ISA) and has contributed to the education of several
generations of Cuban and Latin American dancers.
Since 2000, Marianela has developed work in the U.S.A. as a guest artist, choreographer and performer with her many solo works. She has created
works for companies and institutions including the American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, NYU Politic and Performance Hemispheric Encuentro,
Barnard College, Columbia University, Anchorage Alaska University Ensemble, Alfred College, Wake Forest University, Florida International University,
Asheville Dance Theater Company, FITLA Los Angeles, DTW, Princeton University. In 2003, she taught a semester of Contaminated Dance in NYU
Performance Studies Department. She is a recipient of a Rocky Award 2008, commissions including from Painted Bride Arts Center, National Performance
Network, Cuban Artists Foundation, and Dance Advance. She is a member of the International Dance Council. more about
American dance vanguard. Her revolutionary style, “Contaminated Dance,” radically merges all the arts in dance performance to produce an original
form. As choreographer, dancer and professor, Boan has worked in over 40 countries and created more than 50 choreographic pieces. She is now
working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she founded her new company BoanDanz Action, opened BoanDanz Studio, and teaches at Temple
University (after earning her master’s degree).
Prior to moving to the States, Marianela Boan founded DanzAbierta in Havana and served as its director. She has been awarded numerous prizes in
Cuba and abroad. Her work has been presented at diverse venues and festivals including Grec, Madrid en Danza, Cadiz and Fall in Spain. The Place
Theater in London, Festival of Nations in Switzerland, Cahillot Theater in Paris, Le Hague Festival in Holland, Cirque Royal de la Monnaie in Belgium, L’
Arena de Verona and Goldoni Theater in Venetia, Italy, Global Dance and Summer Theater in Germany. Fringe Edinburgh and Glasgow Festivals,
Scotland. Her work has also been performed at Odin Theater in Denmark and the most important venues in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Caribbean,
India, Nigeria and Japan. She has been a Titular Professor at the High Institute of Arts in Cuba (ISA) and has contributed to the education of several
generations of Cuban and Latin American dancers.
Since 2000, Marianela has developed work in the U.S.A. as a guest artist, choreographer and performer with her many solo works. She has created
works for companies and institutions including the American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, NYU Politic and Performance Hemispheric Encuentro,
Barnard College, Columbia University, Anchorage Alaska University Ensemble, Alfred College, Wake Forest University, Florida International University,
Asheville Dance Theater Company, FITLA Los Angeles, DTW, Princeton University. In 2003, she taught a semester of Contaminated Dance in NYU
Performance Studies Department. She is a recipient of a Rocky Award 2008, commissions including from Painted Bride Arts Center, National Performance
Network, Cuban Artists Foundation, and Dance Advance. She is a member of the International Dance Council. more about
Andrea Miller
Marianela Boan
Jan Bartoszek's credentials include eight choreography fellowships from the Illinois Arts Council and one from the NEA, decades of creating high
quality dances, mentoring of numerous artists and a leadership role in making dance a vital force at the Chicago Cultural Center. She has
choreographed over 55 dances in her career that critics have described as "intelligent, accomplished, moving" (Chicago Tribune) and "poignantly
human" (Chicago Reader). New City has described her as "a movement pioneer who [has] incorporated global-historical elements into [her]
bottomless repertoire." These dances have been presented in venues throughout Chicago including the Ravinia Festival, the Dance Center of
Columbia College, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Athenaeum Theatre, among others. Her work has toured internationally as well as to
regional performance venues. Throughout her career, Bartoszek has fostered a spirit of collaborations with other artists, melding dance with art,
text, music and video to create highly theatrical dances.
Bartoszek is the recipient of a Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Dance Community for her work at the Chicago Cultural Center
as an "educator, mentor, presenter, administrator and promoter of dance in the city with inspirational excellence." She was included in "100
Women Making a Difference" by Today’s Chicago Woman Magazine in recognition of her artistic and civic contribution to the Chicago community.
Bartoszek's choreography credits include work for Steppenwolf, Northlight, Live Bait and Court theaters, as well as with director Ping Chong. As a
performer, she toured with Ping Chong & Company, the Charlie Vernon Performance Company and the Radis Dance Strata. As a leader in the
dance community, Bartoszek has served on the Advisory Board of the Arts and Business Council of Chicago, dance panels for the Illinois Arts
Council and the Oregon Arts Commission, and the Board of the Chicago Dance Coalition. She has served on the dance faculty at Northwestern
University and is a recipient of a 2008 Chicago Dancemakers Forum Artist Award to create Arch of Repose, her first dance film.
quality dances, mentoring of numerous artists and a leadership role in making dance a vital force at the Chicago Cultural Center. She has
choreographed over 55 dances in her career that critics have described as "intelligent, accomplished, moving" (Chicago Tribune) and "poignantly
human" (Chicago Reader). New City has described her as "a movement pioneer who [has] incorporated global-historical elements into [her]
bottomless repertoire." These dances have been presented in venues throughout Chicago including the Ravinia Festival, the Dance Center of
Columbia College, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Athenaeum Theatre, among others. Her work has toured internationally as well as to
regional performance venues. Throughout her career, Bartoszek has fostered a spirit of collaborations with other artists, melding dance with art,
text, music and video to create highly theatrical dances.
Bartoszek is the recipient of a Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Dance Community for her work at the Chicago Cultural Center
as an "educator, mentor, presenter, administrator and promoter of dance in the city with inspirational excellence." She was included in "100
Women Making a Difference" by Today’s Chicago Woman Magazine in recognition of her artistic and civic contribution to the Chicago community.
Bartoszek's choreography credits include work for Steppenwolf, Northlight, Live Bait and Court theaters, as well as with director Ping Chong. As a
performer, she toured with Ping Chong & Company, the Charlie Vernon Performance Company and the Radis Dance Strata. As a leader in the
dance community, Bartoszek has served on the Advisory Board of the Arts and Business Council of Chicago, dance panels for the Illinois Arts
Council and the Oregon Arts Commission, and the Board of the Chicago Dance Coalition. She has served on the dance faculty at Northwestern
University and is a recipient of a 2008 Chicago Dancemakers Forum Artist Award to create Arch of Repose, her first dance film.
Victor is a native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba. He trained at the National Dance School in Havana and was a principal dancer for the National
Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba for ten years. He has studied with distinguished teachers such as Donald McKayle, Chuck Davis and Jeffrey
Bullock from the United States. Victor has toured and danced throughout Europe, the United States and the Caribbean and has participated in
dance festivals such as the American Dance Festival at Duke University, the Holland Dance Festival in Amsterdam and the International Dance
Festival in Germany. He was the first prize winner of the Fourth National Union of Writers and Artists Contest in Cuba in 1992. Victor has danced
with Luna Negra Dance Theater; Concert Dance Inc (CDI); the Lyric Opera of Chicago and as a guest artist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in
2008. He has also danced with the Houston Grand Opera and was nominated for an Emmy Award as a Dancer (2008) with the Ruth page
Foundation's production of Billy Sunday. In 2009 Victor toured to China with CDI and taught at the Nanjing Normal University. Victor has danced
with Hedwig Dances since relocating to Chicago in 2002.
Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba for ten years. He has studied with distinguished teachers such as Donald McKayle, Chuck Davis and Jeffrey
Bullock from the United States. Victor has toured and danced throughout Europe, the United States and the Caribbean and has participated in
dance festivals such as the American Dance Festival at Duke University, the Holland Dance Festival in Amsterdam and the International Dance
Festival in Germany. He was the first prize winner of the Fourth National Union of Writers and Artists Contest in Cuba in 1992. Victor has danced
with Luna Negra Dance Theater; Concert Dance Inc (CDI); the Lyric Opera of Chicago and as a guest artist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in
2008. He has also danced with the Houston Grand Opera and was nominated for an Emmy Award as a Dancer (2008) with the Ruth page
Foundation's production of Billy Sunday. In 2009 Victor toured to China with CDI and taught at the Nanjing Normal University. Victor has danced
with Hedwig Dances since relocating to Chicago in 2002.
Maray Gutierrez is the Artistic Associate of Hedwig Dances. She is a native of Havana, Cuba where she trained at the National School of Dance.
Maray has danced throughout Europe, the United States and the Caribbean and has performed for British television and the Venice Opera. She has
danced in Europe, the U.S., and the Caribbean and has performed for British television and the Venice Opera. Maray was a principal dancer for
Danza Contemporanea de Cuba for ten years and worked with esteemed choreographers Giovanni de Cicco, Donald McKayle, Isidro Rolando,
Joaquin Sabaté, Jan Linkens and Marianela Boan, among others. Since relocating to the United States, she has danced with Hedwig Dances, Luna
Negra Dance Theater, Concert Dance Inc., the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Houston Grand Opera. Maray has choreographed three dances for
Hedwig Dances. She has since choreographed for Luna Negra Dance Theater and dance studios throughout Illinois. Read Interview with Maray.
Maray has danced throughout Europe, the United States and the Caribbean and has performed for British television and the Venice Opera. She has
danced in Europe, the U.S., and the Caribbean and has performed for British television and the Venice Opera. Maray was a principal dancer for
Danza Contemporanea de Cuba for ten years and worked with esteemed choreographers Giovanni de Cicco, Donald McKayle, Isidro Rolando,
Joaquin Sabaté, Jan Linkens and Marianela Boan, among others. Since relocating to the United States, she has danced with Hedwig Dances, Luna
Negra Dance Theater, Concert Dance Inc., the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Houston Grand Opera. Maray has choreographed three dances for
Hedwig Dances. She has since choreographed for Luna Negra Dance Theater and dance studios throughout Illinois. Read Interview with Maray.
Justin Deschamps began dancing in the Seattle area. From there he has been in the East and Midwest of the United States for the past seven
years pursuing dance (ballet) in such cities as Pittsburgh, Richmond and Annapolis. He recently moved to Chicago to join the Lyric Opera and has
now found himself with his first modern dance company, Hedwig Dances. Justin also dances with Ameba Acrobatic & Aerial Dance, the Lira
Ensemble and Momenta.
years pursuing dance (ballet) in such cities as Pittsburgh, Richmond and Annapolis. He recently moved to Chicago to join the Lyric Opera and has
now found himself with his first modern dance company, Hedwig Dances. Justin also dances with Ameba Acrobatic & Aerial Dance, the Lira
Ensemble and Momenta.
Alitra Cartman immediately knew dance was her life calling after taking her first dance class at the age of 16. Alitra went on to attend the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she graduated with her BFA in Dance in May 2008. During her time at the University of
Illinois, she danced in works choreographed by the dance faculty including Linda Lehovec, Cynthia Oliver and many more. She also had the
honor of performing D-Man in the Water by Bill T. Jones. After graduation Alitra sought to begin her professional dance career where she
found a home with Hedwig Dances. Alitra leads Hedwig Dances' outreach program, taught under the auspices of After School Matters. She
also dances with the Cindy Brandle Dance Company.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she graduated with her BFA in Dance in May 2008. During her time at the University of
Illinois, she danced in works choreographed by the dance faculty including Linda Lehovec, Cynthia Oliver and many more. She also had the
honor of performing D-Man in the Water by Bill T. Jones. After graduation Alitra sought to begin her professional dance career where she
found a home with Hedwig Dances. Alitra leads Hedwig Dances' outreach program, taught under the auspices of After School Matters. She
also dances with the Cindy Brandle Dance Company.
Michel Rodriguez was born in Havana, Cuba and graduated from the National School of Art in 2003. He began dancing as a company
member of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba and became a principal dancer in 2006 participating in the International Theater Festival of
Havana, Biennale of Venice, Temps D'Images of Dusseldorf, and Sziget Festival in Budapest, performing in England, Mexico and teaching
workshops in Spain. He has work with choreographers Jan Linkens, Kenneth Kvarnstrom, Samir Akika, Cathy Marston, Luca Bruni and
Rafael Bonachela. He has performed in Jonathan Meyer's The Waking Room and will perform with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2010.
Michel moved to Chicago in 2008 and began dancing with Hedwig Dances.
member of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba and became a principal dancer in 2006 participating in the International Theater Festival of
Havana, Biennale of Venice, Temps D'Images of Dusseldorf, and Sziget Festival in Budapest, performing in England, Mexico and teaching
workshops in Spain. He has work with choreographers Jan Linkens, Kenneth Kvarnstrom, Samir Akika, Cathy Marston, Luca Bruni and
Rafael Bonachela. He has performed in Jonathan Meyer's The Waking Room and will perform with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2010.
Michel moved to Chicago in 2008 and began dancing with Hedwig Dances.
Jessie Gutierrez is native of Havana,Cuba. She studied at the National School of Art in Havana during which time she participated in The
International Theater School Festival in Holland. In 2002 she continued her professional training with the Cuban national company, Danza
Contemporanea de Cuba, where she toured to England, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Hong Kong, Mexico, Austria and Hungary as a
company member. She became a principal dancer in 2006 and worked with internationally recognized choreographers Jan Linkens, Cathy
Marston, Rafael Bonachela, Carlos Junior Acosta, Samir Akika, Luca Bruni and Kenneth Kvarnstrom. She moved to Chicago in 2008 and
started working with Hedwig Dances.
International Theater School Festival in Holland. In 2002 she continued her professional training with the Cuban national company, Danza
Contemporanea de Cuba, where she toured to England, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Hong Kong, Mexico, Austria and Hungary as a
company member. She became a principal dancer in 2006 and worked with internationally recognized choreographers Jan Linkens, Cathy
Marston, Rafael Bonachela, Carlos Junior Acosta, Samir Akika, Luca Bruni and Kenneth Kvarnstrom. She moved to Chicago in 2008 and
started working with Hedwig Dances.
COMPANY BIOS
Bill Young/Colleen Thomas
Create work that reaches toward the outermost extremes of physical dance. The movements topple over each other with the intensity and
urgency of a white-water rapid, while forming a choreographic world full of emotional range and power. Abstract one moment and intensely
human the next, their work has spoken to audiences the world over---from Estonia, Poland, Russia and Germany to China, Peru, Venezuela and
Brazil. Bill Young is the recipient of a 1997 Guggenheim Fellowship. He discovered dance through contact improvisation while studying music at
Oberlin College. He showed early work in San Francisco, while dancing with Margaret Jenkins and later moved to New York where he dance wit
Douglas Dunn, Randy Warshaw and Merce Cunningham (on video). In 1988 he established Bill Young & Dancers, which has been presented in
NYC at the Joyce Theater, The Kitchen, Danspace Project, PS122 and DTW as well as on repeated international tours. Colleen Thomas moved
from Miami to New York 15 years ago. She has danced in the companies of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, Bebe Miller, Nina Weiner, Donald Byrd/The
group, among others. Colleen received her MFA in dance from the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee and is an adjunct professor at Barnard
College at Columbia University. read more
urgency of a white-water rapid, while forming a choreographic world full of emotional range and power. Abstract one moment and intensely
human the next, their work has spoken to audiences the world over---from Estonia, Poland, Russia and Germany to China, Peru, Venezuela and
Brazil. Bill Young is the recipient of a 1997 Guggenheim Fellowship. He discovered dance through contact improvisation while studying music at
Oberlin College. He showed early work in San Francisco, while dancing with Margaret Jenkins and later moved to New York where he dance wit
Douglas Dunn, Randy Warshaw and Merce Cunningham (on video). In 1988 he established Bill Young & Dancers, which has been presented in
NYC at the Joyce Theater, The Kitchen, Danspace Project, PS122 and DTW as well as on repeated international tours. Colleen Thomas moved
from Miami to New York 15 years ago. She has danced in the companies of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, Bebe Miller, Nina Weiner, Donald Byrd/The
group, among others. Colleen received her MFA in dance from the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee and is an adjunct professor at Barnard
College at Columbia University. read more
